People
Rick Vacura is a partner in King & Spalding’s Special Matters and Government Investigations team and head of the Government Contracts practice. He represents clients in a variety of governmental investigations and civil litigation matters that span across multiple industries. He has led numerous internal corporate investigations and has regularly served as primary counsel for government contracts and transactional matters.
Rick has represented clients in litigation involving major weapons and space systems, technology, telecommunications, prime and subcontract disputes, bid protests, injunction proceedings, procurement fraud, Freedom of Information Act actions and allegations under the Federal Tort Claims Act. He has conducted internal investigations on false claims and violations under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and defended against suspension and debarment actions.
He has advised clients ranging from start-ups to large public companies on due diligence for foreign and domestic acquisitions, joint venture agreements, novation and assignment issues, technical data and nondisclosure agreements, export controls, anticorruption, national security and domestic and international solicitations and contract or subcontract terms and conditions.
Rick has held leadership positions on the Contract Claims and Disputes Resolution Committee and the International Procurement Committee of the American Bar Association’s Public Contract Law Section.
As a recognized leader in government contracts, Rick has led seminars on federal procurement topics for eGov, Federal Publications, the Contract Services Association of America, the Council of Defense & Space Industry Associations, the National Contract Management Association and Department of Defense organizations.
Before joining private practice, he served as a major in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Department from 1982 to 1992. As an Air Force lawyer, he served as a trial attorney for the Pentagon’s Air Force Contract Litigation Division and as a procurement legal advisor for the Ballistic Missile Organization in California.
LL.M., George Washington University Law School
J.D., William Mitchell College of Law
B.A., University of Texas, with honors
District of Columbia
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Virginia
April 24, 2020
King & Spalding Earns Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2020 Guide
February 18, 2020
King & Spalding Adds Two Government Contracts Partners to its Special Matters and Government Investigations Team
February 18, 2020
Government contracts partners Rick Vacura and Steve Cave join the firm's Special Matters and Government Investigations team in Washington, D.C.
Represented Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation in a "reverse" Freedom of Information Act case, seeking to enjoin NASA’s release of confidential commercial pricing information related to the James Webb Space Telescope contract. The Court rejected NASA's arguments and permanently enjoined NASA from releasing the information.
Represented Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) in defeating Sierra Nevada Corp's bid protest filed at GAO challenging NASA's $2.6 billion contract award for the development of a new spacecraft capable of replacing the Space Shuttle and transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
Represented DynCorp International in a successful post-award bid protest at GAO challenging the Department of State's improper discussions with offerors and subsequent award decision of a $131 million task order for life mission and support services in Afghanistan.
See more
December 8, 2020
Department of Defense's New Assessment Methodology Takes Effect
April 23, 2020
Government Offers Storage at the Strategic Petroleum Reserves for US-Produced Crude Oil
April 8, 2020
Energy Newsletter - April 2020
April 24, 2020
King & Spalding Earns Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2020 Guide
February 18, 2020
King & Spalding Adds Two Government Contracts Partners to its Special Matters and Government Investigations Team
February 18, 2020
Government contracts partners Rick Vacura and Steve Cave join the firm's Special Matters and Government Investigations team in Washington, D.C.
Represented Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation in a "reverse" Freedom of Information Act case, seeking to enjoin NASA’s release of confidential commercial pricing information related to the James Webb Space Telescope contract. The Court rejected NASA's arguments and permanently enjoined NASA from releasing the information.
Represented Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) in defeating Sierra Nevada Corp's bid protest filed at GAO challenging NASA's $2.6 billion contract award for the development of a new spacecraft capable of replacing the Space Shuttle and transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
Represented DynCorp International in a successful post-award bid protest at GAO challenging the Department of State's improper discussions with offerors and subsequent award decision of a $131 million task order for life mission and support services in Afghanistan.
See more
December 8, 2020
Department of Defense's New Assessment Methodology Takes Effect
April 23, 2020
Government Offers Storage at the Strategic Petroleum Reserves for US-Produced Crude Oil
April 8, 2020
Energy Newsletter - April 2020
April 24, 2020
King & Spalding Earns Top Rankings in Chambers USA 2020 Guide
February 18, 2020
King & Spalding Adds Two Government Contracts Partners to its Special Matters and Government Investigations Team
February 18, 2020
Government contracts partners Rick Vacura and Steve Cave join the firm's Special Matters and Government Investigations team in Washington, D.C.
LL.M., George Washington University Law School
J.D., William Mitchell College of Law
B.A., University of Texas, with honors
District of Columbia
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Virginia